Biden: Attacks will fail to destabilize Iraq

Published September 16th, 2009 - 18:24 GMT

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden voiced confidence Wednesday that effortts to destabilize Iraq through violence will fail

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden voiced confidence Wednesday that effortts to destabilize Iraq through violence will fail, and added the country's future depended on its ability to resolve its political and sectarian differences.

Meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Biden said Washington was "committed to the Iraqi government and people as they work to create a peaceful and prosperous Iraq."

On the effort to reconcile political and sectarian divides, Biden said that al-Maliki "was kind enough to discuss with us some of the issues that are in need of resolution if the Iraqis are to achieve the bright future they fought for and deserve."

Other issues that were discussed included the agreement governing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

According to the AP, Al-Maliki described the meeting as "positive" but took no questions. Neither did Biden.